The present invention relates to firearms, and, more particularly, to firearm frames and frame components.
Most semiautomatic handguns include a frame and a slide that moves along the firearm's longitudinal firing axis in a reciprocating manner. The frame provides the core support structure for the firearm's operational and other components, e.g., trigger and firing mechanisms, grip, ammunition feeding system, barrel, and slide. For operably attaching the slide to the frame, the frame includes a set of rails positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of the frame. The rails are integral with the rest of the frame, i.e., the frame, including the rails, is machined or otherwise formed from a single piece of metal or other material.
In addition to the rails, the frame includes other integrally machined features for attaching, supporting, and/or guiding additional components of the firearm such as the trigger and firing mechanism sear. While such features (including the rails) function well from an operational standpoint, the manufacturing process for forming the rails and other integral features can be time consuming and complex.
According to an embodiment of a firearm with modular sear and trigger mechanism housings of the present invention, a firearm includes a firearm frame and a modular housing. The frame has at least one receptacle formed therein, with the modular housing being removably received in the receptacle. For example, the receptacle may be an upwardly open compartment integral with the frame and accessible from the top of the frame, and the modular housing may be configured for “drop-in” insertion into the compartment. The modular housing is configured for accommodating one or more operational components of the firearm, e.g., triggers, trigger bar, sear assemblies, or the like. (By “accommodating,” it is meant that one or more firearm components may be operably attached to and/or housed in the modular housing.) In operation, the operational components are attached to the modular housing, the modular housing is dropped into receptacle, and the modular housing is secured in place.
In another embodiment, the modular housing is provided with a set of slide rails. The slide rails partially or wholly replace the rails typically integrally formed on a firearm frame. A slide portion of the firearm moves along the slides in a reciprocating manner during operation of the firearm.
In another embodiment, the frame has fore and rear receptacles formed therein. A modular trigger mechanism housing is disposed in the fore receptacle, and has one or more trigger mechanism components attached thereto. A modular sear mechanism housing is disposed in the rear receptacle for housing a sear mechanism. Each modular housing includes a set of slide rails.
One advantage of the firearm with modular sear and trigger mechanism housings according to an embodiment of the present invention is that it utilizes a “generic” frame provided without integral rails and other features for supporting the firing mechanism or other operational components. Instead, the rails are provided as part of the modular, drop-in sear and trigger mechanism housings configured to support the trigger and firing mechanisms. During assembly, the modular sear and trigger housings are simply inserted into the frame, at appropriate pre-configured locations, and are secured in place.
The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
Referring to
The slide 14, which is defined by a slide frame 26, further includes a breech face 28 and an extractor port 30. The breech face 28 is engagable with the rearward end of the barrel 18 to form a firing chamber when the slide 14 is disposed forwardly on the frame 12 (
Referring now to
When the trigger 52 is actuated by being pressed in a rearward direction, the trigger 52 pivots about a pin 64 that extends through a lateral opening 66 in the trigger mechanism housing 32. This transmits movement to the trigger bar 54 via the pin 56. The trigger bar 54 is thereby moved in a rearward direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal firing axis 20 such that the trigger bar extension 58 correspondingly translates in the channel 60, for actuation of the sear 50.
The trigger mechanism housing 32 is a generally open frame-like support having first and second sidewalls 70, 72 interconnected by one or more lateral cross members 74. The sidewalls 70, 72 are provided with various laterally aligning openings, e.g., the lateral opening 66, for attachment of various subcomponents and/or for attachment of the trigger mechanism housing 32 to the frame 12. As noted, the interior of the trigger mechanism housing 32 is generally open, to accommodate the trigger 52 as well as any other components configured for disposition between the two sidewalls 70, 72.
The sear housing 34 is a generally solid body having a number of openings, slots, etc. formed therein for accommodating the various components of the sear assembly 46. Detailed views of the sear housing 34 are shown in
For reciprocal movement of the slide 14 along the longitudinal firing axis 20, the trigger mechanism housing 32 has a pair of forward slide rails 76, 78 respectively attached to, and extending laterally outwards from, the upper side edges of the sidewalls 70, 72. Additionally, the sear housing 34 has a pair of rear slide rails 80, 82 similarly attached to, and extending laterally outwards from, opposite upper side edges of the sear housing 34. The slide rails 76, 78, 80, 82 are substantially identical in shape, and are dimensioned to fit within opposed, inwardly opening and longitudinally extending grooves (not shown) located on the inner surface of the slide 14. The slide rails may have arcuate, convex bottom surfaces 100 and/or chamfered or rounded leading and trailing edges 102, 104, respectively, to prevent the slide 14, upon discharge of the firearm 10, from the possibility of binding or overstressing the housings 32, 34. As should be appreciated, the slide rails 76, 78, 80, 82 are meant to fully or partially replace the rails previously integrally formed as part of the frame 12.
The trigger mechanism housing 32 and sear housing 34 may be manufactured using standard methods such as machining or molding, in which case the slide rails are integrally formed as part of the housings 32, 34. Alternatively, the housings 32, 34 may be assembled from various subcomponents attached together using standard means such as welding, adhesives, or fasteners. The housings 32, 34 may be made of various materials, but will typically be composed of a light, high-strength metal or metal alloy.
Once inserted into and attached to the frame 12, the housings 32, 34 lie in operative alignment with one another, such that: (i) the trigger bar 54 may be connected to the sear assembly 46; and (ii) the fore slide rails 76, 78 respectively align with the rear slide rails 80, 82. Additionally, the frame 12 may be provided with lead rails 88 on either side of the fore/barrel end of the frame 12, for further guidance of the slide 14. In that case, the rails 76, 78, 80, 82, 88 would all respectively align with one another for movement of the slide 14. In particular, the rails 76, 78, 80, 82, 88 would extend along the underside of the slide 14 in the longitudinal direction to allow for cycling of the slide 14 between forward (battery) and rearward (retired) positions.
With the housings 32,34 provided as separate, modular components for attachment to the frame 12, it is no longer necessary to machine or otherwise form the various component features of the housings 32, 34 as part of the frame 12 during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, the overall design and manufacturing process is rendered more efficient, more flexible (e.g., the possibility of different configurations and/or different materials for the frame 12 and housings 32, 34), and with less potential waste from manufacturing errors. Additionally, because the trigger and sear mechanism subcomponents can be attached to the housings prior to attaching the housings to the frame, the assembly process is simplified.
As should be appreciated, the receptacles 84, 86 and housings 32, 34 may be together characterized as “modular housing means” cooperative with the frame 12 for removably supporting one or more operational components of the firearm (e.g., the housings support the operational components and can be inserted into and removed from the receptacles) and for supporting the slide 14 in a reciprocating manner.
An additional embodiment of the present invention may be characterized as a modular firearm system having one or more firearm frames 12 and one or more separate housings, e.g., 32, 34, for holding, supporting, and/or guiding portions of a firearm operational mechanism. Each frame 12 has one or more receptacles for receiving the housings. The frames and housings are interchangeable, meaning that each frame accommodates all or some of the housings. Some of the receptacles may be configured to only accept one subset of the housings, e.g., if the frame has two receptacles, the first receptacle may be configured to accept one subgroup of housings and the second receptacle another subgroup of housings.
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the above description.
This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Ser. No. 60/639,187; Ser. No. 60/638,594; Ser. No. 60/638,753; Ser. No. 60/638,593; Ser. No. 60/638,746; Ser. No. 60/638,592;Ser. No. 60/638,751; and Ser. No. 60/638,752, all filed Dec. 22, 2004, and all hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
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